Newark and Sherwood

Newark and Sherwood's population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Newark and Sherwood increased by 8.0%, from about 106,000 to 115,000.

The addition of about 8,500 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Newark and Sherwood was home to, on average, 1.3 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Newark and Sherwood

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Newark and Sherwood increased by three years, from 40 to 43 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the East Midlands and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,100 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 13% of people in Newark and Sherwood are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Newark and Sherwood by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Newark and Sherwood

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Newark and Sherwood, but at a slower rate than across the East Midlands.

In Newark and Sherwood, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28% to 32%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Newark and Sherwood fell from 57% to 52%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 13%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Newark and Sherwood

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 26% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 26% in 2001

The number of people in Newark and Sherwood that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 14,000 in 2001 to just over 29,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 26% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Newark and Sherwood that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 84,000 in 2001 to just under 76,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 66%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 7,800 to just under 8,100. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 7.3% to 7.0%.

About 460 people (0.2%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Newark and Sherwood increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Newark and Sherwood by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Newark and Sherwood

The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.6% to 4.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.5%, while the percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Newark and Sherwood

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in Newark and Sherwood from the White ethnic groups increased from just over 100,000 in 2001 to about 110,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Newark and Sherwood from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 620 in 2001 to about 1,200 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.0%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 540 to about 1,000 (from 0.5% to 0.9%).

About 500 people (0.3%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 270 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Newark and Sherwood remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Newark and Sherwood by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Newark and Sherwood, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.2% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Newark and Sherwood fell from 16% to 14%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 74% to 71%.

Private renting in Newark and Sherwood increased by 5.7 percentage points

Percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.4% to 5.9% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 67% in 2001. The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Newark and Sherwood decreased by 3.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Newark and Sherwood, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that were employed increased from 51% to 53% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.6%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that were self-employed increased from 8.8% to 9.8%.

The proportion of employed people increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 53% in 2001 to 52% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood without children increased from 61% to 63% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 9.4%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 61% in 2001 to 62% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Newark and Sherwood working less than 16 hours increased from 1.8% to 2.9% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 16% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Newark and Sherwood increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Newark and Sherwood, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.7% to 9.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) households had a married couple, compared with 41% in 2001. The percentage of households in Newark and Sherwood, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.7% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.8% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Newark and Sherwood residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.4% to 2.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.2%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 2.2% in 2001 to 2.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Newark and Sherwood remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Newark and Sherwood by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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